Foundations, 1798-1820s
The Second Great Awakening, a revival movement in the United States, took place in the early 19th century. Many religious minority movements formed. Some of these movements held beliefs that would later be adopted by the Seventh-day Adventists.
An interest in prophecy was kindled among some Protestants groups following the arrest of Pope Pius VI in 1798 by the French General Louis Alexandre Berthier. Forerunners of the Adventist movement believed that this event marked the end of the 1260 day prophecy from the Book of Daniel. Certain individuals began to look at the 2300 day prophecy found in Daniel 8:14. Interest in prophecy also found its way into the Roman Catholic church when an exiled Jesuit priest by the name of Manuel de Lacunza published a manuscript calling for renewed interest in the Second Coming of Christ. His publication created a stirring but was later condemned by Pope Leo XII in 1824.
As a result of a pursuit for religious freedom, many revivalists had set foot in the United States, aiming to avoid persecution.
Read more about this topic: History Of The Seventh-day Adventist Church